Younts family creates significant impact for business students with $2.5M Academic Cornerstone gift

The Melvin and Dollie Younts Trading Room is the latest named facility in the new Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business

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The Melvin and Dollie Younts Trading Room is a new state-of-the-art learning laboratory for Clemson students to immerse themselves in financial markets around the globe. With a hands-on environment of terminals that provide real data feeds, students receive a real-world experience that positions them to improve and enhance their investment skills. The Melvin and Dollie Younts Trading Room is located in the new Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business and was established with the generous investment of $2.5 million. 

The Melvin and Dollie Younts Trading Room is a world-class teaching and research hub that has the look and feel of a Wall Street office. The space includes data feeds, large ticker screens, trading stations and a 48-seat behavioral lab. 

“Studying and trading in the stock market is a rewarding endeavor,” Melvin Younts said. “It brings me great joy that Clemson students will gain a deeper understanding of financial markets in a real-world trading environment, shaping future generations for financial success and prosperity.”

The Younts family’s gift establishes them as the ninth Academic Cornerstone Partner, making them Clemson’s fourth Cornerstone Partner for both academics and athletics. The Cornerstone Partner program is led by a group of visionary individuals who make a gift of $2.5 million or more in the interest of Clemson’s future success as a top-ranked public university. 

“The Younts family has long been among the foremost investors in our great University, and their visionary Academic Cornerstone Partnership investment in the future of business education will benefit students for generations to come,” said Wendy York, dean of the Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business. “The Melvin and Dollie Younts Trading Room and its state-of-the-art technology will contribute to our students’ market readiness by providing experiential, hands-on learning and add significantly to the value of a Clemson business degree.” 

“This generous gift from my good friend Melvin Younts will help elevate our business education programs, and our students will benefit greatly from the unique experience they will gain in the Melvin and Dollie Younts Trading Room,” said Clemson University President Jim Clements. “I am grateful to Melvin for his outstanding investments as Cornerstone Partners for both athletics and academics.”

The Melvin and Dollie Younts Trading Room marks the second facility to bear the Younts name at Clemson. In 2016, Melvin and Dollie Younts established themselves as Athletic Cornerstone Partners with a gift to name the Melvin and Dollie Younts South Club in Memorial Stadium. 

Hailing from nearby Fountain Inn, Melvin and Dollie Younts have made generous gifts to a number of organizations including the Younts Center for Performing Arts, North Greenville University Football Stadium Complex, Anderson University Football Program, Newberry College Football Program, Columbia College’s Younts Soccer Stadium (in honor of Kerry Ann Younts Culp ’79 and Dollie Younts ’51), Furman University’s Melvin and Dollie Younts Conference Center, Greenville Technical College Innovation Drive, the Kerry Ann Younts Culp Library and the Connie Maxwell’s Marie Younts Girls Homes.

A 1950 graduate of Furman University and 1952 graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law, Melvin Younts is a prominent philanthropist in the Upstate. He is a retired attorney of the firm Younts, Alford, Brown and Goodson and has enjoyed tremendous success in a variety of business endeavors.  He first learned about the stock market reading a pamphlet by Dr. Roger Babson from a church library at the age of 12. Melvin made his first stock purchase as a college student, and his passion for the stock market has grown stronger with each passing day.

His wife, Dollie Isgett Younts, was a native of Cheraw, South Carolina, and a 1951 graduate of Columbia College. She was the president of the Fountain Inn Garden Club and president of the Fox Run Country Club Ladies Association. Known for her engaging personality, quick wit and contagious smile, “Miss Dollie” passed away on July 20, 2018, at the age of 88. Melvin and Dollie enjoyed 67 years together, and they have five children, 15 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Fortunately for Clemson, their son, Laney Younts ’87, and most of their grandchildren are successful Clemson graduates.

The extraordinary generosity of Melvin and Dollie Younts has been pivotal to the success of the Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business and Clemson University as a whole. Their gifts have created meaningful educational and game day experiences for our students who will be better positioned to know how to invest their fortunes once they leave the University and go out and leave their mark on the world. We only hope they will follow the generous example of Melvin and Dollie Younts to always give back a part of your success to help others as you enjoy the fruits of your labor to leave the world a better place.